Recommendation with a caveat

I do recommend buying EUIV to anyone who enjoys grand strategy games. However, unlike several of Paradox's other grand strategy games, EUIV is not a game that merely benefits from the released DLC, it nearly requires them. There are a number of gameplay innovations in the DLC that make it a much more enjoyable experience, and the base game - while still enjoyable - is poorer without them.

KISS still works with games

Great music, a simple concept that can easily be grasped by anyone who has played games before, and great depth without too much complexity. This is the kind of game that you can play sitting and relaxing while listening to the soothing soundtrack or concentrating and trying to beat a previous high score. A gem.

Life and Death go hand in hand

This DLC for Crusader Kings adds the Hospital buildings for holdings, as well as the Prosperity mechanic and a greater nuance to the epidemics that would periodically show up before. Now whether your domain is ravaged by disease is decided not just by chance, but by the prosperity of your domain and the number and quality of hospitals you have.

You could use your prosperity to build Hospitals and encourage future growth while guarding against disease. Or you could use that money to fund an army and take the chance that the Black Death won't spring up in their wake. If your land is hit with an epidemic you can try to counter it or seclude yourself with your court. Just remember, no matter your choices, the Reaper comes for us all.

Inherit the Legacy of Ghengis Khan

This DLC for CK2 introduces the Horde mechanics and a different spin on CK2's original medieval government. Managing your vassals is more important than ever as you balance keeping them happy with not allowing them to grow too strong. The additional parts of the map that are added give you a base to potentially create a horde that rivals the great Mongol Hordes of the time. Will you be able to conquer all the known world?

Not for the easily frustrated

Hard West is a brutally difficult, but mostly fair tactical strategy game with a wild west theme. The storyline is decent, though the characters could use a little more fleshing out. The world building is great, as the strategic sections paint a picture of a bleak wild west, populated by outlaws, demons, and ordinary people just trying to get by.

The combat is where the game shines. With good tactics you can get through most battles with little to no wounds, though the luck system can be punishing when there are a lot more enemies than your characters. Which is all the time. Still, once you get the hang of it, it's a very engaging turn based tactics game.

Great Grand Strategy Game

Hearts of Iron IV is more easily accessible to new players without losing the complexity an depth that caused the previous three games to be such hits with grand strategy fans. Paradox continues to update it with individual country focuses, giving even more options for those who don't want to play one of the major players in WW2.

Best space 4x I've played in a long time

I've played one game fully and started three more. Sometimes the computer starts with nothing near you; other times you get an advanced computer player on one side and a fallen empire on the other. The mod support is great, and will definitely keep me coming back to this game for years to come. I've lost hundreds of hours to Paradox's grand strategy games, and I expect this one to be no different.